Oregon Marijuana Laws

With the passing of Measure 91, recreational dispensaries are open for business to conduct sales, permitting adults 21 and older to purchase and possess marijuana (in addition to serving medical patients).

Possession

In Oregon, possession laws are different for marijuana use at home versus away from home (Public vs. Private), which extend to edibles and other marijuana products. Because of this, it is advised that smokers who possess cannabis when away from home should always have an I.D. on them for proof of age.

If you are of legal age and are in a public place, you may possess:

1 ounce of usable cannabis (i.e. dried flower)

24 ounces of usable cannabis if you are a registered Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMPP) cardholder or caregiver

1 ounce of cannabis concentrates or extracts

16 ounces of cannabis edibles in solid form

72 ounces of cannabis products in liquid form

10 cannabis seeds

50 seeds if you are a registered Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMPP) cardholder

4 immature cannabis plants

If you are of legal age and are in a private residence or property, you may possess up to 8 ounces of usable cannabis (i.e. dried flower). All other possession limits remain the same as public possession.

Please note that property owners and landlords reserve the right to allow or deny marijuana use or cultivation on their property. It is always advisable to check with your landlord or property owner before consuming or cultivating cannabis on their property.

Purchasing Limits

If you are 21 years of age or older and possess a valid government-issued ID, you are able to purchase cannabis flower, seeds, clones, edibles, concentrates and several other products containing cannabinoids. However, there are limitations on the amounts of each you are able to purchase from a licensed retailer.

If you are of legal age and possess a valid ID, you are able to purchase:

1 ounce of usable cannabis (i.e. dried flower)

24 ounces of usable cannabis if you are a registered Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMPP) cardholder or caregiver

5 grams of cannabis concentrates or extracts

16 ounces of cannabis edibles in solid form

72 ounces of cannabis products in liquid form

10 cannabis seeds

4 immature cannabis plants

NOTICE: Beginning August 24th, 2018, registered medical marijuana program cardholders will only be able to purchase one ounce of cannabis per day.These regulations will expire in six months and have been implemented to help reduce the flow of medical cannabis products into the black market.

Gifting Recreational Cannabis

Gifting of recreational cannabis between two adults 21 years of age or older is permitted, but only if the gifted amount does not exceed possession limits and the gift-giver does not accept any financial consideration.

Financial consideration can be defined in multiple ways, listed as follows:

Money

Goods or services

Tips

Cover charges

Admission fees

Donations

Raffles

Fundraisers

Sales

If any of the above-listed items are accepted as final consideration, the transaction is no longer considered a gift and is subsequently considered illegal and punishable by law.

Store Hours

Under Measure 91, licensed retailers are authorized to dispense marijuana to adults 21 years of age or older between the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 pm local time. However, store owners have the right to operate at any time within these hours, so be sure to check ahead of time to confirm the exact opening and closing times.

Consumption

Smoking marijuana in public in Oregon is illegal, even if you're smoking with an often-discreet vape pen. As a result, you can only consume at home or on private property. This means no bars, community parks, public outdoor smoking areas, on buses and airplanes, or federal land. Getting busted smoking weed in public could result in negative legal ramifications including fines and even jail time.

Counties and Cities Banning Recreational Marijuana Sales

Oregon has adopted a similar policy as Colorado, which allows for local cities and counties to decide for themselves if they will allow recreational marijuana stores. Please note that cities and counties have their own laws, so a county may ban recreational stores, but a city located within that county may allow them. Vice versa, a city may ban but the county may allow. Personal possession is allowed regardless if a city/county allows recreational stores or not.

Cities Banning Recreational Stores:

Adrian

Athena

Aumsville

Baker City

Boardman

Burns

Canby

Canyon City

Canyonville

Central Point

Coburg

Cove

Creswell

Culver

Dayville

Eagle Point

Elgin

Enterprise

Fairview

Gaston

Grass Valley

Halfway

Halsey

Harrisburg

Heppner

Hermiston

Ione

Irrigon

Island City

Jacksonville

John Day

Jordan Valley

Joseph

Junction City

Klamath Falls

LaGrande

Lake Oswego

Lexington

Long Creek

Lostine

Lyons

Maupin

Merrill

Mill City

Millersburg

Milton-Freewater

Monument

Moro

Mount Angel

Mount Vernon

North Powder

Nyssa

Prairie City

Richland

Rufus

Sandy

Scott Mills

Shady Cove

Shaniko

Sherwood

Spray

Sublimity

Summerville

Sutherlin

Ukiah

Umatilla

Union

Vale

Wallowa

Wasco City

West Linn

Wilsonville

County Map:

Driving Under the Influence

In Oregon, driving with any amount of THC in your system could get you a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. However, because THC can stay in your system for up to 30 days, it makes it hard to prove whether or not you smoked prior to or while driving. The best way to avoid this is to not smoke and drive at all. If you are caught driving under the influence of marijuana you could face jail time and fines as well as a suspended driver's license or the judge could order an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle at your cost. Oregon has taken a hard stance on this and considers any presence of THC to be evidence of impairment.

Medical Marijuana

The legalization of recreational marijuana through Measure 91 doesn't affect Oregon's medical marijuana program. The Oregon Medical Marijuana Act protects users from criminal charges concerning possession, production, and delivery. To apply for a medical marijuana card visit the Oregon Public Health Department's website and fill out an application. You'll need to have your doctor complete the Attending Physician Statement. You'll also need a valid photo ID and $200 for the application fee. If you receive benefits from the government, like food stamps, this fee can be reduced. You'll receive your card within 30 days after submitting your application.

In terms of reciprocity, Oregon doesn't recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards by law. However, a recent court of appeals decision may have overturned that, but it remains unclear. For those trying to use their Oregon medical marijuana cards out of state, only the following states will recognize the card:

Arizona

Delaware

Maine

Michigan

Montana

Nevada

Rhode Island

Transporting and Exporting Marijuana

Similar to laws in other recreational states, under measure 91, it is strictly illegal to transport marijuana across state lines, even if both states allow recreational marijuana. However, there are several allowances for transporting marijuana within the state.

You are legally allowed to drive with marijuana in your vehicle, so long as you are within the legal possession limits and have your marijuana stored away from the driver in a child-proof container.

Additionally, you are able to board a plane in Oregon with the legal public possession limit if you are flying within the state. You may not smoke or open the container on the plane and you may not bring marijuana with you if you are traveling outside of the state. If you are trying to board a plane flying out of state, you will be asked to dispose of the marijuana before boarding.

Federal Land and Properties in Oregon

Remember what we said about marijuana still being illegal in the eyes of the federal government. That means that your right to possess recreational marijuana does not apply on federal or tribal lands in Oregon. That includes national forests, national parks, national monuments, military bases, federal courthouses, and other federal properties. You can't consume, grow, transport, or possess marijuana on any federal lands managed by federal agencies like the National Parks Service and the Bureau of Land Management. If you're caught cultivating or lighting up at a federal park you could face a hefty fine of up to $250,000 and jail time.

Cultivation

Under current Oregon law, if you are 21 years of age or older, you are allowed to grow up to four plants per household, but they must be kept out of public view. If you grow outside, hide them with a tall fence or other barrier. If you grow more than four plants and are caught, you could face fines of up to $125,000 and prison time.

Note that if you live within 1,000 feet of a school, you are forbidden from growing at your residence, however this law could change in the future. In the meantime, don't even think about doing it or you could face 25 years in prison and up to $375,000 in fines.